Governance and Leadership Framework for Wales

The Governance and Leadership Framework for Wales (GLFW) has been created by the Welsh Sports Sector, for the Welsh Sports Sector. The aim of the GLFW is to take the Welsh Sports Sector from good to excellent.

In late 2014, Sport Wales and the Alliance began to facilitate a move by Welsh governing bodies to create a structured programme of leadership and governance development for the sector. Following six months of consultation with over 50 NGBs resulted in the production of framework which sets out what Wales believes to be the minimum standard of governance and the expected leadership behaviours of those running sports. You can download the framework for free below.

Alongside the Framework the Alliance is pleased to offer a range of support services for any Welsh sports organisations. This ranges from education and training workshops and webinars to consultancy services and governance health checks. Below you will find a variety of resources including handy to get you started on your governance improvement journey.

The sport and recreation sector in Wales has wanted for some time to achieve a significant cultural shift in governance and leadership. Pleasingly, the Alliance agreed to work with us to develop a Governance and Leadership Framework which is jointly branded and modified to reflect the expectations, focus and behaviours that were identified as part of the consultation process. Over 50 organisations were consulted and agreement was reached that the Framework would be adopted and owned by the Sector.

The consultation process also highlighted a need to improve organisational culture and leadership which led to the Framework including positive behavioural indicators for Board Members. Due to the diverse nature of the Sector and to ensure discrimination could be avoided, the Framework has also been subject to an Equality Impact Assessment.

The Framework, launched in April 2015, is a guidebook to good governance in the sports sector. It covers seven key principles of governance, each tackling a different issue in sports governance. Each Principle is supported by Practical Considerations, which assist in the application of the principles in your organisation, and Expected Behaviours, which outline steps to be taken by those in a position of leadership when applying the framework to their organisation.

It is hoped the framework, and its support structure, can assist Welsh Governing Bodies in a way that is effective and, most importantly, sustainable. This approach provides additional useful guidance to board members of Welsh NGB’s, assisting in the implementation of the framework and catalysing the improvement of governance standards across welsh sport.

Whilst the framework itself is new, the document it is based upon (the voluntary code of good governance) is well established.

In 2014, the Alliance commissioned Birkbeck University to carry out an independent impact study of the Voluntary Code since its launch in 2011. The findings were significant with 95% respondents stating the Code had been effective or very effective in assisting good governance. Moreover, 3 out of 4 respondents said implementing the Code had had a positive effect on their whole organisation. Whether in receipt of public funds or not, organisations that sign up and take action have shown the Code can make a difference to their organisations.

Though we cannot say for sure that the Governance and Leadership Framework for Wales is the best way to achieve good governance; the evidence to date shows that this model is extremely effective.

Whilst the framework itself is new, the document it is based upon (the voluntary code of good governance) is well established.

In 2014, the Alliance commissioned Birkbeck University to carry out an independent impact study of the Voluntary Code since its launch in 2011. The findings were significant with 95% respondents stating the Code had been effective or very effective in assisting good governance. Moreover, 3 out of 4 respondents said implementing the Code had had a positive effect on their whole organisation. Whether in receipt of public funds or not, organisations that sign up and take action have shown the Code can make a difference to their organisations.

Though we cannot say for sure that the Governance and Leadership Framework for Wales is the best way to achieve good governance; the evidence to date shows that this model is extremely effective.

By signing up to the Framework your organisation is making a long-term commitment to aspire to good governance and leadership and to integrate the principles and behaviours across your organisation. The principles and behaviours offer a guide and a stimulus for you to improve and maintain the governance and leadership of your organisation.

How you use them and what they mean for your organisation is for you to develop. We hope that you, your members and your stakeholders will use the Framework as a guide against which to benchmark yourselves.

Good governance is fundamental to sustainable development as you put in place systems and processes that underpin good working practice and make your organisation more efficient. The Framework will also give you credibility with participants, funders and commercial partners building their confidence in you and strengthening the relationships.

Signatories to the framework will also qualify for access to additional support opportunities provided by Sport Wales and the Alliance, intended to assist in the development of your organisation in line with the framework principles and behaviours.

In order to sign-up to the Framework you should undertake the following:

1. Discuss the Framework at a Board meeting and achieve Board approval that you will sign-up and examine the Principles and behaviours in terms of what they mean for your organisation2. Include the Framework as an objective in your strategic plan3. Select an individual in your organisation to take responsibility for the Framework 4. Complete and submit a sign-up form to confirm commitment to the framework

Signing up to the Framework is not an indication that everything in the Framework has been achieved, it is the beginning of a journey towards compliance. It is expected that sport and recreation organisations in Wales will set ambitious targets to meet the “Minimum Expectations” by 2019. Organisations are also encouraged to make progress against the “Other” considerations” which again are useful indicators of how each principle might operate in practice.

Signing up to the Framework is a statement that says your organisation is prepared to think seriously about governance and to bring the Principles and behaviours to life in a way that suits your organisation. It is not a confirmation that you have already fully enacted all the principles, and are fully compliant with all expected behaviours.

The Framework is developed primarily as a self-regulatory tool. Each Principle is accompanied by a list of success indicators which will aid organisations to measure improvement or identify what success will look like.

It is these indicators, along with the minimum expected behaviours which will be used to survey the level of progress across the sector, and to identify areas where greater support or guidance is required.

Sport Wales or the Alliance may also ask for case-study examples of practices that can be shared with other organisations as ideas for implementing the Framework and promotion of best practice.

The Sport and Recreation Sector in Wales have recognised the need for improved governance and leadership and the Framework has been developed “for the sector by the sector”. They have consulted widely on the Framework and set ambitious “Minimum Expectations” for the Sector through to 2019. It is expected that all Sport and Recreation Organisations in Wales will sign-up to the Framework and commit to making significant improvements in this area.

Signing up to the GLFW is only the start of your governance improvement journey. It’s a commitment to taking your current governance to a standard that the whole welsh sports sector wants to attain. Whilst your journey will be individual to your sport you will be part of a bigger movement across Wales. Below we have a range of documents, tools and information that you may find useful in kicking off the process. We have mapped the key documents in the Framework and curated editable versions for download.

Signatories to the Governance and Legal Framework for Wales can find useful case studies and materials on this page, as well as links to the latest GLFW newsletter.